NEW RULES FOR YOUNG DRIVERS
C&P Newswire
COLUMBUS — Big changes start today for Ohio’s youngest drivers. Anyone between 18 and 20 must now complete driver training and log supervised practice hours before getting a license.
The new law closes a loophole that once allowed young adults to skip lessons. Officials say it’s meant to reduce accidents, noting drivers under 21 are still overrepresented in crashes.
For 18-year-old Remy Sunuth, the change was unexpected.
“I was hoping I could sneak by without it,” he said. “Now I’ve got to sign up for classes.”
The rules require 8 hours of instruction and 24 hours of supervised driving, including nighttime practice. State leaders call it a step toward safer roads.
“I’d rather my kid practice more than rush,” said Cynthia Gomez, mother of a 19-year-old in Cleveland.
Driving schools report a surge in sign-ups, and officials say they’ll track whether the change leads to fewer wrecks.
For Sunuth, the message is clear: “The road to a license just got longer.”
